Cartons or boxes for shipping fresh produce



Jan. 2, 1968 s. R|sAFuLU 3,361,324

CARTONS OR BOXES FOR SHIPPING FRESH PRODUCE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 1, 1966 u M Z? it P 55 22 .1 g! 56 20 25:

I I 52 14 1a J 2 5 jv 7 INVENTOR 22 2 Samuel L. Cm czfalh Jan. 2, 1968 s. CRISAFULLI 3,361

CARTONS OR BOXES FOR SHIPPING FRESH PRODUCE 2 SheeLS-Sheet 2 Filed March 1, 1966 Samuel L. Cm'safu ZZZ ATTUIWE .5

United States Patent Ofiice 3,361,324 Patented Jan. 2, 1968 3,361,324 CARTONS OR BOXES FOR SHIPPING FRESH PRODUCE Samuel L. Crisafulli, 105 E. 7th St, Oswego, N.Y. 13126 Filed Mar. 1, 1966, Ser. No. 530,994 Claims. (Cl. 22927) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A carton for packing and shipping fresh produce having means for preventing the contents from becoming bruised, disorderly, discolored and compressed. Means is also provided for Wrapping lettuce in proper position with the butts down so as to prevent bruising and to make the top of the lettuce more attractive.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in cartons or boxes for packing and shipping fresh produce such as wrapped and unwrapped lettuce, vegetable, fruit and the like.

Heretofore boxes and cartons have been made for this purpose but they have been foldable, with a single topmost flap, with a single compartment with the layers of produce placed on top of each other, inside the box, so that the lower layers have a tendency to become bruised, and the contents present a disorderly appearance. Furthermore such prior boxes are formed with a number of vent holes, hand holes in the outer wall exposing the contents to discoloration and with handles making the boxes expensive to manufacture.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a carton or box for produce that eliminates the above disadvantages of known cartons or boxes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a carton of this type with a built-in shelf or separator that separates the layers of produce from each other so that the items cannot become compressed or bruised and so that if one item in either layer should be bad it would not affect the other items.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a carton that is especially suitable for packing wrapped lettuce which presents a problem since wrapped lettuce, for the most part, is packed butts down of the bottom layer and if packed butts down on the top layer, the butts of the top layer would have a tendency to bruise the tender heads of the lettuce on the bottom layer. Furthermore, when the top layer is packed butts up, such packing will detract from the appearance of the lettuce because in wrapped lettuce the seal is made at the butt end. With the present invention, both layers can be packed butts down thus preventing bruising and making the top layer more attractive.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a carton for produce that is simple in construction and design, sturdy and rugged in construction, economical to manufacture and can be shipped and stored in unassembled form in flat condition but can be easily and quickly set up.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a carton for produce that is nonfoldable, has novel fast tablike closure fasteners, has no unnecessary weakening vent or hand holes and prevents discoloration of the contents.

For further comprehension of the invention and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference should be had to the following description and accompanying drawings and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a carton embodying the invention, shown in open condition,

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the blank from which the carton of FIG. 1 is made,

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing a layer of produce on the bottom and certain of the panels folded,

FIG. 4 is a similar View with certain of the panels closed and one of the cover flaps open,

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4 with both closure flaps shown in closed condition,

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 77 of FIG. 6 showing the carton filled with produce, and

FIG. 8-shows a reduced form of side flap.

Referring now in detail to the various views of the drawings, in FIG. 2 there is shown a blank from which the body and cover or lid of the cart-on are formed. This is of one-piece construction substantially rectangular in shape and may be made of cardboard or suitable solid fibreboard. It is shown suitably cut and scored or creased along certain lines to facilitate formation of the carton and is supplied to the customer by the manufacturer in fiat condition. The blank has been cut and scored to form a carton 10 rectangular in configuration shown in FIG. 1 ready for filling without any separate or extraneous fastening means. The carton 10 comprises a body with a double bottom formed by flaps 12, 12 extending lengthwise of the body defined by score lines 14, 14 and by flaps 16, 16 extending transversely of the body defined by score lines 18, 18, the flaps 16, 16 overlapping the ends of flaps 12, 12. The body has side panels 29, 22 defined by score lines 14, 14 and the panels 24, 26 defined by score lines 18, 18. The end panel 24 is joined to the adjacent end of side panel 20 by means of metal staples 28 passing through a flange 30 defined by a crease line 32 on end panel 24.

In accordance with the present invention, a flap 34 defined by score line 36, is formed on the top edge of each of the side panels 20 and 22. Each flap 34 has a score line 38 extending from end to end thereof dividing the fiap into an inner section 40 and an outer section 42, the outer section being wider than the inner section and being flexibly connected to the inner section. The outer section 42 is formed with cutouts 44 at the ends thereof, constituting handholes for manipulating the flap. A wide closed slot 46 is formed at the base of the inner section 49 midway its ends.

In the event it is deemed unnecessary to use a shelf or separator in the carton, the side panels 26 and 22 may be formed with nonsectional flaps, that is flaps without the intermediate score lines thereacross, such as the flap 34' having a single section shown in FIG. 8 attached to side panel 20 the flaps 34 being only sufficiently wide to cover the space across the body of the carton and to reach the bottom flaps 12 and 16.

Similarly flaps 48 and 49 defined by score line 50 are formed on-the top edges of the end panels 24 and 26. Each flap has a score line 52 extending from side to side thereof, dividing the flap into an inner section 54 and an outer section 56, the outer section being filexibly connected to the inner section. The inner section 54 is formed with a pair of spaced ventilating holes 58 and flap 49 is formed with cutaway portions 60 at its outer end adjacent its juncture with the outer section 56. The ventilating holes are so positioned that they coincide with each other when the carton is assembled. The outer section 56 is formed with rectangular locking tongues 62, 62 at its ends, the tongues having tip extensions 64, 64 at the inner ends thereof normally g 3 extending in alignment with the cutout portions 60, to the inner ends of said cutout portions.

In use, for the purpose of filling the carton with produce such, for example, as heads of lettuce L shown in FIG. 7, the side flaps 34 and the cover end flaps 48 and 49 are first swung to open position as shown in FIG. 1. A layer of heads of lettuce L is mounted on the flaps 12 and 16, constituting the bottom of the carton, as shown in FIG. 7, the interlock between the flaps 12 and 16 preventing displacement of such flaps. The flaps 12 and 16 may however be secured to each other by glue. The side flaps 34, 34 are next folded inwardly and interlocked to the side panels 20 and 22 by first swinging inner flap section 40 of one of the flaps 34 inwardly into the interior of the body into intimate contact with the inner surface of the adjacent side panel, for example, side'panel 22 whereupon the outer flap section 42 automatically assumes a horizontal position spaced above the bottom panels 12 and 16 for one-half the area of the interior. Next the inner flap section 40 of the other flap 34 is similarly swung into intimate contact with the inner surface of the other side panel 20 whereupon the outer flap section 42 of said flap 34 automatically assumes a horizontal position spaced above the bottom panels 12 and 16, for the other half of the area of the interior, in horizontal alignment with the outer section 42 of the other flap 34 as shown in FIG. 7. The aligned horizontal sections 42 constitute a shelf dividing the interior of the body of the carton into a bottom compartment 70 and an upper compartment 72. The sections 42 rest on the contents of the lowermost compartment, such as the layer of lettuce L, and are prevented from collapsing by said contents. Another layer of produce, such as heads of lettuce L, is placed on the top of the horizontal sections 42 forming the shelf thus filling the upper compartment 72 as shown in FIG. 7.

The open top of the carton is next closed by first swinging the end flap 49, with the cutout portions 60, over the top layer of lettuce L as shown in FIG. 4. Flap 49 may be suitably marked for this purpose, for example, by printing the word first thereon. During this operation, the outer section 56 of flap 49 is tilted upwardly and rearwardly in order to position its locking tongues 62 vertically with the extension tips 64 over the slots 46 in the side flaps 34 as shown in FIG. 5. Downward pressure of the flap 49 as shown by the top arrow in FIG. will carry the extension tips 64 of the tongues 62 downwardly through the slots 46, and further continued downward movement of the flap 49 will move the flap into horizontal position over the top layer L' of produce and push the locking tongues 62 backward into interlocking relation with the bases of the flaps 34, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 4. A space is left between the base of each locking tongue 62 and the adjacent side panel 22 or 20 to receive the locking tongues 62 of the other flap 48 when it with its tongues is swung inwardly and downwardly in a similar fashion into interlocking relation as shown in dotted lines in FIG- 6, with the outer sections 56 of the cover flaps 48 and 49 in overlapping relation. In this manner, no glueing or extraneous fastening device is required on the part of the packer and the box may be reopened for inspection without damage to the contents and without indicating that it has been reclosed. The two-section cover or lid and the novel interlock contribute to the strength of the carton.

It will be noted that I have provided a carton for shipping and storing produce wherein the tongues securely lock the cover fiaps to the body. There is sufficient play however between the tongues and bases of the side flaps 34 so that the cover flaps can rise a small distance and still be locked to the body. This permits bulge packing without danger of the cover flaps opening up. Normally in packing produce such as fruits and vegetables, they are piled higher than the walls of the carton and the cover is then forced down on the body. The locking 4 V tongues 62 of the present invention permit the cover flaps to be locked in place even though such cover flaps are raised above the walls of the carton. Later as the commodities settle during shipment, the cover flaps assume their normal position on the body. In any case, the cover flaps are prevented from being forced off the body of the carton. i

The position of the contents of the carton10 and the position of the interlocking cover flaps are shown in FIG. 7 where it will be noted that the heads of lettuce illustrated do not touch each other so that they cannot become compressed or bruised and so that defects in the layers cannot be transmitted to each other. The holes 58 in the cover or lid flaps 48 provide sufiicient' ventilation for the contents.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may a be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1. A carton of cardboard for produce comprising a rectangular-shaped body with a bottom constituted by the top of the body, said cover flaps having meansfor interlocking with the integral means, forming the shelf, for securing the cover flaps inclosed position, the flaps constituting the bottom of the body comprising flaps hinged along the bottom of the side panels, flaps hinged along the bottom of the end panels, the flaps hinged to the end panels overlapping the flaps hinged to the side panels, the integral means constituting the shelf comprising flaps hinged to the top edge of the side panels, each flap having a transverse score line dividing the flap into inner and outer sections the inner section having a closed slot midway its ends at its hinge line, the inner section adapted to be folded inwardly of the interior of the body of the carton in intimate contact with the adjacent side panel, the outer section assuminga horizontal position therein, said outer sections being in abutment thereby constituting a shelf.

2. A carton as defined in claim 1 wherein the outer sections have cutout portions at the ends thereof constituting handholes for manipulating the flaps.

3. A carton as defined in claim 1 wherein the cover flaps each has a transverse score line dividing the flap into outer and inner sections and wherein the interlocking means is carried by the outer section and includes an integral rectangular shaped tongue integrally formed at each end of the outer section and extending perpendicularly to the plane of said outer section, each tongue having an extension top extending inwardly of the inner end of the tongue, the tongues adapted to extend through the slots in the flaps on the side panels with the extension tips thereof interlocking with the side flaps.

4. A carton of cardboard for produce comprising a rectangular-shaped body with a bottom constituted by overlapped flaps and with side and end panels, the body being open at the top,-integral means on the side panels constituting a shelf when in operative position and dividing the interior of the body into upper and lower compartments, and cover flaps hinged to the end panels and 7 adapted to be folded inwardly to close the opening in the top of the body, said cover flaps having means for interlocking with the integral means, forming the shelf for securing the cover flaps in closed position, the flaps constituting the bottom of the body comprising flaps hinged along the bottom of the side panels, flaps hinged along the bottom of the end panels, the flaps hingedto the end panels overlapping the flaps hinged to the side panels, the flaps constituting the bottom of the body comprising flaps hinged along the bottom of the side panels and flaps hinged along the bottom of the end panels, the flaps hinged to the end panels overlapping the flaps hinged to the side panels, and the integral means constituting the shelf comprising flaps hinged to the top edges of the side panels, each flap having a transverse score line dividing the flap into inner and outer sections, the inner section having a closed slot midway its ends at its hinge line, the inner section adapted to be folded inwardly of the interior of the body of the carton in intimate contact with the adjacent side panel, the outer section assuming a horizontal position therein, said outer sections being in abutment thereby constituting a shelf.

5. A carton as defined in claim 4 wherein the cover flaps each has a transverse score line dividing the flap into outer and inner sections and wherein the interlocking means is carried by the outer section and includes an integral rectangular shaped tongue integrally formed 20 at each end of the outer section and extending perpendicularly to the plane of said outer section, each tongue having an extension tip extending inwardly of the inner end of the tongue, the tongues adapted to extend through the slots in the flaps on the side panels with the extension tips thereof interlocking With the side flaps.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,352,759 9/1920 Markert.

2,142,131 1/ 1939 Inman 22927 2,305,087 12/1942 Keller 22927 2,404,067 7/1946 Hill 22945 2,531,090 11/1950 Turner 229-27 2,829,778 4/ 1958 Carabet 22927 X 3,058,578 10/1962 Struble 22945 X 3,069,065 12/1962 Debout et al. 22945 DAVIS T. MOOREHEAD, Primary Examiner. 

